Wapakoneta Daily Newshttp://www.wapakdailynews.com/node/7013/atom/feed2013-07-27T21:14:59-04:00Flagman visits W'field to help with Zimmerman memorialhttp://www.wapakdailynews.com/content/flagman-visits-wfield-help-zimmerman-memorial2013-07-27T21:14:59-04:002013-07-27T21:14:59-04:00editor

WAYNESFIELD — Many people know him simply as the “Flag Man.”

Larry Eckhardt, of Little York, Ill., has spent the last seven years traveling from town to town across the United States helping people honor their fallen soldiers.

Eckhardt was in the village of Waynesfield Friday with 2,380 flags to place along the path from Waynesfield-Goshen High School where the viewing for U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Sonny Zimmerman was held Friday and services are to be held today at 11 a.m.

WAYNESFIELD — Many people know him simply as the “Flag Man.”

Larry Eckhardt, of Little York, Ill., has spent the last seven years traveling from town to town across the United States helping people honor their fallen soldiers.

Eckhardt was in the village of Waynesfield Friday with 2,380 flags to place along the path from Waynesfield-Goshen High School where the viewing for U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Sonny Zimmerman was held Friday and services are to be held today at 11 a.m.

Zimmerman was killed in action July 16 in Mushaka, Afghanistan.

Eckhardt first began his dedication to fallen soldiers and their hometown communities seven year ago, when such a memorial was held near his home.

“We went to a funeral for a man from our area,” Eckhardt said. “There were 2,000 people there and only 100 flags. I just didn’t think that was right.”

For more on the "Flagman's" efforts, see Saturday's edition of the Wapakoneta Daily News.